The millions of workers without jobs face a miserable Christmas and a bleak New Year.

GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny

More than 20% of all under-25s – 1.02million – are officially jobless, the highest rate for nearly 25 years.

Figures revealed the total number of people out of work leapt by 129,000 to 2.62m in the three months to September.

But while hard-up Brits scratch around for work or languish on benefits, 150,000 more foreigners landed jobs in a year.

Bank of England Governor Sir Mervyn King said the outlook remained grim as he predicted growth would barely limp in at 1% this year and remain so in 2012.

He described the eurozone debt crisis as the “single biggest risk” to the UK.

And GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said: “The millions of workers without jobs face a miserable Christmas and a bleak New Year.”

David Cameron will today announce a £250million fund to help firms train up new apprentices. The PM said: “I am determined to do all that we can to give people the very best skills, training and opportunities to succeed.”

But the jobs woe continued yesterday as British Gas, mining giant Rio Tinto Alcan and Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks axed 1,700 posts between them.